Due to the development of the spoken language since the Middle Ages, this sound is complex, not only in terms of spelling but also in terms of pronunciation. In "standard" Swedish without any strong social or regional marker this sound is pronounced in a way very similar to German "Buch" or Scots "loch". However, it can also be pronounced in a way midway between the "tj" sound and "sh-" in English and then carries a strong upper-class social marker, except in Northern Sweden where a similar pronunciation is very widespread without social connations. The social marker can elicit mildly to violent reactions whereas the regional marker is usually thought of as attractive.

The standard spelling is sj.

sju, sjö, sjal, sjåpig, själ

Before soft vowel the skj-sound is often spelled sk.

Regalskeppet Vasa, Stockholm

skepp, skinn, sky, skärm, sköld

Before 'o' and 'u' the skj-sound is sometimes spelled skj.

skjorta, skjul, skjuta

Before the soft vowel ä the skj-sound is sometimes spelled stj.

stjärna, stjärt, stjälk

In central and northern Sweden, the combination rs is also pronounced this way, except in formal recitals and by some elderly speakers. Particularly in Western Sweden (and there more clearly in lower-class sociolects) the combinations "rs" and "rt" are pronounced "s" and "t".

fors, färsk, kurs

For some exceptions in beginning of loan words, before a soft vowel the skj-sound is spelled g.

The father of Queen Christina, Gustav II Adolf, built the warship Vasa in the year 1628. The ship sank on its maiden voyage as it was too unstable.
Anders Franzén found the sunken ship in 1956. It was brought up and preserved and is now exposed at the Vasa museum in Stockholm.